Miniatures! Examples in the Garden

I always enjoy visiting the local garden center.  I enjoy it more now that I have a awesome point and shoot camera with me all the time.  I'll never miss a photo opportunity like these wonderful miniature gardens.  Check out the clever planters they use.  How many tiny garden props can you spot?

How cute!

The BBQ grill is the planter

What a great way to reuse an old wagon!

Now that's creativity in the works!

An Unusual Turkey

I came across a most unusual variety of turkey.  Look at the white feathers!

Here's a thirsty chicken:

Daisies?

So Hubby knows Latin.  That is Latin names for all the plants.  When I ask him "what plant is this"?  Naturally, he gives me the Latin name first.  It's usually long and takes me three tries before I can repeat it.  Then I have to ask him for the common name because I know how to spell those names.  I present to you...Osteospermum.  Commonly known as African Daisies:

Sometimes I have to use the Internet to double-check the spelling.  I'm getting smart at this and "Google" is my friend.

These are Different...Petunias!

Here's another unusual find from the weekend.  Petunias!  I know...they are ordinary.  Check out the neat colors:

Black and yellow petunias (200mm)

As I walked by, I had to do a double-take on these.  I wasn't sure if I was seeing green leaves or pink flowers:

Fushia and green petunias (200mm)

I love the combination of colors.  Not sure Hubby will be bringing any of these annuals home.  He's a perennial type of guy.

A Plant Lecture and Some Unusual Florals

I've caught up reviewing all the pictures from the weekend.  Here's a few more:

Hubby giving a plant lecture at the garden center

Here's an unusual flower I came across on the perennial table:

English Daisy

Here's another unusual flower.  I have no clue what this one is.  Once I find out, I'll be back to post the name:

More English Daisies

A Photog Day...448 Pictures

I spent a couple of hours outdoors enjoying the the beautiful Easter weather.  My hubby was giving a lecture at the garden center.  I stopped by to take some pictures which I'll post in a day or so.  In the mean time, I walked around the nursery and captured these Columbine flowers:

I took over 400 pictures today.  I'll be posting some unusual new flower pictures over the next few evenings.  Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas!

A few days ago, I had a chance to visit the nursery where my hubby works.  It was all decked out for the holiday season.  I forgot to bring my Nikon, but I did have my handy-dandy Canon p&s with me.  So, I practiced my "hold the camera still" technique and got a few shots:  

A red tree

Huge wreath hanging from the high ceiling

The elves taking a break

Poinsettias galore!

Wired dressform decorated

The Santa Shop

I don't know where the month of December went.  It arrived here fast.  We hardly have any decorations up at our house.  I can't tell if it's because I'm getting older and time seems to go fast or is it because I'm getting busier and busier each year?

Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas!  

A Holiday with No Flash

Over the long Thanksgiving weekend, I ended up taking roughly 500 pictures.  My brother was in town and we decided to make this a photo opportunity and visit local places. 

We took the Metro and headed down to Georgetown.  Here we are at the Canal.  Georgetown Mall would be on the right and Pantagonia shop on the left. 

 

I couldn’t resist taking a picture of this dress (window display) inside the Mall. 

 

This picture is not as clear, but still the dress is beautiful. 

 

We headed north on Wisconsin Avenue and I just happened to look to my left and spotted these old tracks. 

 

Another day, we headed out to Merrifield Garden Center for another non-flash photo opportunity. 

Happy July 4th!

Today doesn't feel like a Sunday to me, but a true holiday. I spent most of today running errands and well, just having a fun day. You can tell it's a holiday...there just doesn't seem to be that much traffic. Folks are either visiting friends and relatives or venturing downtown (Washington, DC) to take part of the festivities there. I prefer to have a nice, long, quiet weekend. Doing my own thing.

By mid morning, I ended up in Old Town Manassas. Armed with my Canon S90, I went on my picture-taking adventure before the crowds arrived. At first I felt really restricted only having a small P&S camera with me. It felt good not to be bogged down in hot weather carrying heavy equipment. So, I put my camera to the test to see how well it does in bright sunlight and in low light situations. Here are the results:

In the middle of Old Town


One of the decorations around the train station


Okra's got a new facelift...bright yellow!


The gazebo at the Pavilion


At the Pavilion


Tractor ride


In the middle of the train tracks


Signage at the train station


Train on display


A close up


Enjoyed chatting with these two ladies waiting for the train to arrive


School Must Be Out - Taken at stop light while in the car



Early afternoon, I was thinking of my DH, and decided to pick up some lunch and some Mango Smoothies and headed over to the garden center. Hmmmm, another picture-taking adventure. The indoor shots were taken without flash. Amazing.


The patio - indoor display


The blue room - indoor display


The orange room - indoor display

Gardening Wear


A False Window Display


A Fish Wine Rack


Orchids in the greenhouse


Merrifield's own


Need pots?


Outdoor patio display


Spectacular color arrangements


Couldn't pass up taking pictures of these colorful chairs


Another outdoor patio display


Hibiscus in bloom


A Lonely Wagon


Nap Time!


The temperature gauge in my vehicle registered 101. It really felt like it. The humidity wasn't too bad, though tolerable.

This turned out to be a fantastic no flash day for me. I left the camera on "P" mode and just snapped away. The S90 did a fabulous job with the indoor and low light situations. The battery lasted for 255 pictures. I kept snapping away even when the red battery light kept blinking. Eventually, the lens retracted and the camera turned itself off. And yes, I did have a spare battery with me.

Overall, I think my camera did a great job. It took me awhile to get used to holding a small camera. Then I had to get used to looking at the LCD versus a viewfinder to take a picture. To keep the camera hanging from my wrist, I used an adjustable heavy wrist strap that worked better than the flimsy Canon strap that came with the camera. I've ordered a Canon leather case for my camera that should arrive in a few days. In the meantime, I picked up a Lowepro Ridge 30 padded case to use while on travel.

A wonderful small camera that's almost as good as a DSLR. Almost.

Fireworks - Scene mode


Camera: Canon S90
Lens: 28-105mm
Mode: P-mode
Flash: none